Chambersburg's Lincoln Way & Main Street could become two-way

CHAMBERSBURG&GT;&GT; Local officials have come up with several possibilities for moving traffic through and around Chambersburg.

One of the latest options proposes two-way traffic on U.S. 30 and U.S. 11 through the borough.

The borough is developing an Official Map that would guide development in the future. Borough council has four alternative maps to consider.

One alternative advocates a return to all streets being two-way with more traditional streetscapes downtown. Lincoln Way and Queen Street (U.S.30) and Main and Second streets (U.S.11) would be two-way with roundabouts at Sollenberger Road, Fifth Avenue, Derbyshire/Garfield streets and Commerce Street. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation recommended the roundabouts at the north, south, east and west gateways to the town.

The alternative was proposed after discussion with council members, according to borough staff.

Lawrence Lahr, a Chambersburg resident and planning consultant, too had voiced concerns about the original draft of the Official Map. The map focused too much attention on automobiles and too little on pedestrians, he claimed. Wider one-way streets promote faster traffic and riskier walking.

Chambersburg Town Council will hold a public hearing at 7 p.m. Monday to hear comments about an Official Map. The hearing will be held in council second-floor chambers, 100 S. Second St., above the police department.

"Town council may select any combination of the alternatives," Stonehill said. "It is our hope that council and the public will find some combination of these alternatives as the acceptable map to be adopted at some point in the process. We look forward to public input as we discuss the future of transportation in our municipality."

An Official Map is sort of a wish list for improvements that the borough hopes someone will make one day, according to Stonehill.

The map aims to direct growth and redevelopment. Streets, watercourses and public grounds on the Official Map may be reserved for future taking, but does not obligate a municipality to take lands or to open streets, according to the state planning code.

The borough has held 13 public hearing on the Official Map since September 2012. The borough Planning and Zoning Commission proposed a map that includes:

-- Changing the south end of U.S. 11 where the road changes from two-way to one-way from Garfield Street to Derbyshire Street

More recent alternatives would change a proposed extension of North Third Street from a cul de sac to a through-street to Grant Street and requiring construction of a bridge. Another alternative would keep the cul de sac and include public parking and an "events plaza" as proposed in the Downtown Vision.

Stonehill said council will be asked Monday to direct staff to either proceed with date for adopting the Official Map ordinance or tabling this project.